Understanding Critical Race Theory from a Biblical Perspective

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Critical race theory used to be a subject that was relegated to the halls of academia, but that is no longer the case. It has gone mainstream and is common in government institutions, K-12 education, and corporate training. Some see critical race theory as a helpful analytical tool or a harmless fad. Others believe critical race theory is a counterfeit version of biblical justice. This is the position I hold. 

Critical race theory (CRT) takes concepts from a Judeo-Christian perspective, hollows them out, and redefines them with Marxist views and values. It uses social justice as its battering ram. CRT is an overarching belief system that has its own storyline for creation (group identity), rebellion (oppression of minorities; systemic racism is original sin; white privilege needs to be repented of; white fragility is an unwillingness or inability to confess), salvation (revolution through activism), and restoration (liberation that brings about a utopia). CRT functions as a religion for many people, which is why there is so much zeal to defend the ideology and proselytize others. It is atheistic in nature and puts man in place of God to deal with all the problems of the world by addressing systems and institutions rather than sin in the heart.

Critical race theory is infesting every level of the government and public schools all over the country. Institutions have embedded ideological tests to weed out dissenters. Licensing requirements and equity, diversity, and inclusion training are equivalent to a loyalty test and require a loyalty oath in corporate America and public education. CRT is a catechism of religious belief being taught in schools. Let’s look at a few core views of CRT.

Who am I?

CRT abandons individual autonomy and divides everyone into groups that are believed to be in constant conflict with one another focused on race, sexual identity, gender identity, and religion. All minorities are victims. You are not your own individual and are defined by the identity and actions of your group. This means that you cannot rise above the group you belong to. According to CRT, justice is not working out what is rightly due to an individual, but what is due to a person as a bearer of a group identity. In other nations that have embraced this view chaos, genocide, and totalitarianism is the result of the dehumanizing idea that individuals don’t exist. Many examples could be listed, but I will just mention that this was the thinking behind the Nazi’s with the Jews as well as the Hutus and Tutsis of Rwanda. Denying the existence of the individual destroys the very foundation of western civilization and it will destroy our country through class warfare. Tribalism, division, and hate are the fruit. Freedom, responsibility, and accountability are all casualties of this destructive belief. Individual value, worth, and dignity is the biblical idea that created the West. By contrast, the Bible affirms that individuals are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, not group identity. It’s important to understand that groups shape us, they don’t define us.

What’s the problem?

In a word, it’s oppression. The goal of critical race theory, implemented through the social justice revolution, is to dismantle oppressive structures and transfer power and authority to victims. CRT proponents believe power hides behind all human interaction for the purpose of gaining control over those with less power. The powerful are the privileged at the expense of the unprivileged. Power is zero-sum. If one group gains, another must lose. CRT sees power as held exclusively by white, straight, male, and Christians who seek to maintain their power through a vast and hidden array of social systems such as white supremacy, the patriarchy, and traditional views of marriage, family, and sexuality. CRT does not seek power for victims so that injustice may be addressed or other people served. The motive is to shift power and place the oppressed into positions of authority. The Bible doesn’t see the problem as oppression between groups, but rebellion against God. Our fundamental problem is in the heart when we break God’s law, which leads to injustice for others.

What’s the solution?

The solution is revolution through social justice activism. Oppressed victims and their allies must unite to dismantle and overthrow oppressive power structures and build a new and better society. At the Human Rights Campaign awards banquet actress Anne Hathaway expressed this boldly,

It is important to acknowledge with the exception of being a cisgender male, everything about how I was born has put me at the current center of a damaging and widely accepted myth. That myth is that gayness orbits around straightness, transgender orbits around cisgender, and that all races orbit around whiteness. …Together we are not going to just question this myth, we are going to destroy it. …Let’s tear this world apart and build a better one.

This is not a solution to injustice. It’s a revolution that seeks to create an entirely different America. “Let your revolution come through your instruction and your education,” said Mauri Friestleben, Principal of North Minneapolis High School. The solution is the destruction of western civilization to make way for the new utopia.

CRT is Marxism

It uses the same concept applied by communists in Europe using the oppressor and oppression framework. They applied it to economics. The poor and peasants were the good guys and the middle class and rich were evil. Critical Race Theory uses the same oppressor and oppression framework, but applied to race and gender instead of economics. They believe that progression means smashing all the old forms of society – whiteness, marriage, gender, family, religion – in order to liberate humanity. Unlike communists, their method to gain control is not through economic production, but by controlling the source of cultural production such as academics, media, and corporate America. CRT is ideological totalitarianism requiring uniformity of thought. It is built upon lies. It requires that you reject the evidence you see with your eyes and ear and believe their propaganda. They believe that after humanity is freed from the chains that bind us, we will experience a radically new and improved form of life.

CRT is Racist

Racism in America used to mean unequal treatment based on skin color. Racism has been redefined to mean unequal outcomes based on group identity. That is why math can be racist. If one group of students is getting lower math scores than another group, then it is racist because they are experiencing unequal outcomes. Different outcomes for different groups is the injustice. CRT purposefully discriminates against certain groups to level the outcomes. It has become a culturally acceptable means of racism under the banner of equity and equal outcomes. Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on Twitter: “There’s a big difference between equality and equity. Equality suggests everyone should get the same amount. Equity is about giving people the resources and the support they need, so that everyone can be on equal footing, and then compete on equal footing. Equitable treatment means we all end up in the same place.”

Moral authority is given to those in victim classes. If you check the box of multiple victim statuses, this is called intersectionality. It means that you are more easily able to spot other people’s biases; so therefore, you have greater moral authority. Those who are in oppressor categories don’t recognize they have biases. The authority for truth becomes people’s subjective lived experiences. This is a new secular, moral code and those who don’t live according to it are identified as bigots, racists, and misogynists by the mob.

Critical race theory is a perversion of something only God can accomplish in society by transforming the human heart through Jesus Christ. It appeals to people because it promises progress, a utopian future, and has a built in morality. It is a religious replacement using religious categories. It appeals to atheists, secularists, and those who are alienated from church or family. We must understand that we are not dealing with a theory or a political idea, but a secular religion. It is not harmless or helpful. It is dangerous and destructive and should be rejected. 

What is Justice?

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We all desire justice. If someone gets away with something wrong, it bothers us. One of the most common phrases in the human language may be, “It’s not fair.” But if we were asked to define justice, could we do that? Justice is a confusing, foggy topic for many right now. We need clarity because counterfeit versions of justice are everywhere. What exactly is justice? 

What is Justice?

In the most basic sense, justice is receiving what we are owed. Justice is the result of the correct ordering of things in alignment with God’s design and commands. To understand biblical justice, I want you to look at this picture of Lady Justice. The statue of Lady Justice reveals the biblical principles of justice that our nation was founded upon. Notice four things about justice from the picture:

  • She is standing on the Bible. God’s Word, his righteousness, is the foundation for justice. The pursuit of justice requires a standard. When we lose a sense of right and wrong, we cannot determine what is just. Notice what Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” God wants both righteousness and justice. Righteousness is the moral standard of right and wrong to which God holds humans accountable based on His divine standard. Justice is the fair and impartial application of God’s moral law in society. When there is no standard for right or wrong, it leads to partiality, unfairness, and injustice.

  • Blindfolded, she practices no bias, never showing favoritism or partiality based on wealth, skin color, or sex. Lady Justice is blindfolded because she does not favor rich or poor, elite or lowly, black or white, male or female. Everyone stands on the same standard. 

  • Scales in her hand, her judgment is grounded in objective truth so that there can be fairness. Justice requires a level playing field rather than crooked scales so that both sides of a story can be heard and it requires uprightness, a ”straight” standard so that we can deal with people equally. When facts are presented, Lady justice applies the standard impartially, without favoritism or rigging the scales.

  • A sword in her hand reminds us of the necessity of authority manifested in law and law enforcement. When the law is broken, justice requires that the guilty person is punished. We cannot have justice where there is not truth or law. The unrighteous will naturally fight back against the enforcement of justice through the rule of law. We are seeing this manifested in the push to defund the police and in Antifa, a group that wants no law so that every person can live as he or she wants. 

Biblically, God deals with us fairly and according to a standard. God instructs us to deal with each other in the same way, without favoritism or partiality. Applied to all of life, a biblical view of justice means equal, fair, and impartial treatment for everyone according to God’s law.

Education Matters: Why Education Needs to be Part of Your Churches Ministry to the Next Generation

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Education matters. That’s a phrase that just about every Christian agrees with. Education matters because it influences what children believe, who they become, the choices they make, the friends they choose, and demands thirty-five hours a week of a child’s time for eight months of the year.

Yet, you wouldn’t know this at most churches. Education is overlooked, under-valued and the topic is ignored with a fervor so as not to offend parents. To speak about education is equivalent to blasphemy in many churches. An elder from a church I pastored told me, “You are not allowed to talk about education.” The common sentiment is to respect all educational choice as there is no one right decision for all parents.

Nicole Fulgham, author of Schools in Crisis, embraces the idea that there is no Christian view on education. She states, “There is certainly not a monolithic viewpoint that represents the ‘Christian’ point of view on public education.”[1] Tim Challies shares a similar perspective, “I find myself grappling with this thought: What if God doesn’t care a whole lot about how we educate our children?…One thing I’ve never heard anyone suggest is that maybe it’s just not that big of a deal. And, honestly, I am beginning to learn that way.”[2]

What if Fulgham and Challies are wrong? What if God does care about how we educate our children? What if there is a biblical perspective on education? Wouldn’t it be good for parents to know this and for churches to address the topic?

What does the Bible say about education?

Many people believe the Bible has little or nothing to say about education because the term never appears in Scripture. We only find a single reference to the word school in Scripture, Samuel’s school of the prophets.[3] Despite this reality, the Bible has a lot to say about education. The Bible has many other ways of referring to education such as knowledge, teach, learn, instruct, think, and mind. Here is a sample of what Scripture says about education:

  • Knowledge: The core task of education is to lead a child from ignorance to knowledge. The Bible’s chief concern in education is the knowledge of God, which is contrasted with foolishness (Prov. 1:7). Apart from God, knowledge cannot be properly understood and foolishness abounds. The Bible provides guidance regarding how to navigate godless knowledge. We are told, “Have nothing to do with godless myths” (1 Tim. 4:7). “Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith” (1 Tim. 6:20-21). Knowledge is never neutral; it is for or against God. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

  • Teach: The Hebrew language is rich in words that have to do with instruction; at least thirty-four root words imply the idea of teaching, and the words teach and teacher are used in the Bible over 350 times. Biblical education is focused on the task of teaching the knowledge of God and obedience to His law to the next generation. The Bible is prescriptive regarding what children are to be taught. Here is a sampling of what God commands:

    • God’s law. “Teach them [God’s laws] to your children and children’s children” (Deut. 4:9). “Teach them diligently to your children” (Deut. 6:7). “You shall teach them [God’s laws] to your children” (Deut. 11:9).

    • God’s work and character. “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts” (Ps. 145:4) “Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done…which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children…so that they set their hope in God and not forget the works of God” (Ps. 78:5-6).

    • God’s Word. “How from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings [the Bible], which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching…” (2 Tim. 3:15-16). “Command and teach them these things” (2 Tim. 4:11).

    • The fear of God. “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps. 34:11).

      • Learn: The words learn, learned, and learning appears in the Bible over 100 times. The Bible is concerned with what we learn. Christians are to learn to revere God (Duet. 14:23), to fear God (Deut. 31:12), to serve God (2 Chron. 12:8), what is good (Job 34:4; Titus 3:14), God’s righteous laws (Ps. 119:7), His decrees and commands (Ps. 119:71-73), prudence (Prov. 19:25), to do right (Is. 1:17), to control ones body (1 Thess. 4:4), to praise God (Ps. 89:15), wisdom (Prov. 30:3), the meaning and purpose of life (Eccl. 1:17), contentment (Phil. 4:11), and to learn the Gospel (2 Tim. 3:14-16). If God commands his followers to learn these things, doesn’t it make sense to choose to educate our children so that they learn these very truths?

      • Instruct: The Bible provides guidance about who is to instruct a child. Jesus states, “A student [disciple] when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). The biblical principle to recognize is that teachers reproduce themselves in their students. Children absorb the beliefs, values, and views of the teacher. Biblically, parents are given the role of educating a child (Eph. 6:4).

      • Think: The Bible teaches “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). What a child thinks about, he or she becomes. What does the Bible want us to think about? Here is how the Bible answers that question, “Meditate on God’s Word day and night” (Joshua 1:8). “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8). Lastly, “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:1-2).

      The biblical vision for a child’s education is centered on and saturated with God’s Word, God’s laws, God’s works, God’s character, the fear of God, and godly living. Many parents believe the fallacy that they can obey these passages of Scripture by teaching their children at home on the evenings and weekends, despite sending their children to a school that teaches God is irrelevant, even non-existent, and instructs children in secular morality and unbiblical ideas. Individuals who do this, compartmentalize education in a way the Bible never does and fail to understand there is no distinction between faith and learning. When education is viewed as reading, writing, and math while discipleship is seen as character formation, spiritual disciplines, and sharing faith—we create a false dichotomy the Bible never does and provide our children with an education that is foreign to Scripture.

      Why Include Education in Your Ministry to the Next Generation?

      More than ever, Christians need to know what the Bible teaches about the education of children and put it into practice. Unfortunately, many Christians have adopted a cultural perspective for the purpose and practice of education. The Christian community needs a renewed biblical vision for the education of the next generation. The Bible reminds us that “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). It is critical that Christians capture a biblical vision for a child’s education. Parents need guidance from church leaders how to think biblically about education. Here are five reasons to include education in your ministry to children and youth:

      1. A Biblical Mandate: We must begin with Scripture and ask what are the biblical principles about education. God has given clear guidance in the Bible what, who, why, and how to teach children. God commands us to teach children His laws, His character, and His Word (Deut. 4:9; Ps. 78:4-8; Eph. 6:4). According to the Bible, God did not give the government the role of educating children. Education is a parent’s responsibility, with the support of grandparents and the church. Parents are to instruct children in the Lord, teach them God’s laws, and train a child to apply God’s truth to life. Parents have the freedom to partner with others to educate a child, but must do so in accordance with the principles given in the Bible.

      2. The Incredible Impact: Education is a powerful influence in the life of children. Children will spend 16,000 hours at school between K-12, considerably more time than in church. If pastors are serious about shepherding a child’s heart, then education is a non-negotiable aspect of ministry to the next generation. Modern day public education has scores of secular presuppositions underneath it, which are not understood or recognized by the majority of Christian parents. The approach of trying to overlay Christian beliefs to humanistic education is not successful for the majority of parents, nor is it biblical. Pastors are shepherds called to not only feed the flock entrusted to their care, but also protect the flock from false doctrine and wolves that would destroy faith in Christ. 

      1. A Means of Evangelism and Discipleship: Biblically, education is discipleship. It shapes what a child believes and who a child becomes. Christian education plays a critical role proclaiming the gospel to children, immersing children in gospel truth, training children for gospel living, and sending out children to transform culture through the power of the gospel. Paul reminds us of the critical importance of the centrality of Scripture in the education of children, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). When the church separated itself from the education of the next generation, it forfeited its position of influence in a child’s life and have steadily lost our children to the world in increasing numbers.

      2. Christ-Centered Relationships. Godly relationships with teachers and friends encourage wise choices, holy living, and obedience to God. God reminds us, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33) and “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).
      1. A Priority in Church History: There is a long list of Christian leaders in church history who have emphasized the importance of Christian education and believed it was a critical component of their mission and ministry. They believed the church and Christian school were united in ministry and mutually dependent upon one another. For example, “The great church reformers—Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, and others—gave as much energy to establishing Christian schools as they gave to reforming the church. To them Christian school education and church reform were inseparable allies. Neither, they believed, could succeed without the other.”[4] Martin Luther was a champion of Christian education. He states, “When schools prosper, the church remains righteous and her doctrine pure…Young pupils and students are the seed and source of the church. If we were dead, whence would come our successors. If not from the schools? For the sake of the church we must have and maintain Christian schools.”[5]

      Many Christians are uncertain why we educate a child, the purpose and goal of education, who is given the responsibility in Scripture, and how we are to accomplish the task. As a result, many Christians have unintentionally adopted an unbiblical view of education and take their educational cues from culture rather than Scripture. Pastors have an incredible opportunity to cast a biblical vision for the education of the next generation and help parent think biblically about a topic that is critically important to the evangelism and discipleship of the next generation. If you believe education matters, then it is time to prioritize it in your ministry to the next generation.

       

      [1] Nicole Baker Fulgham, Schools in Crisis: They Need Your Help (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), 27.

      [2] Tim Challies, https://www.challies.com/articles/what-if-god-doesnt-care-a-whole-lot-about-how-you-educate-your-children/

      [3] Samuel G. Kahn, A Short History of Christian Education (Jerusalem: Yesodot Publishers, 1960), 116.

      [4] Paul A. Kienel, A History of Christian School Education vol. 1 (Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications, 1998), xvi.

      [5] F.V.N. Painter, Luther on Education (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1889), 132-133.

How to Help a Child Understand and Defend Their Faith

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You have helped train your children or grandchildren in the Christian faith. They are familiar with key Bible characters and stories, even memorized Scripture passages. You’ve explained the Gospel. They know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose again. They have even had some significant experiences that have profoundly shaped them. They should be safe, right?

What will they do when someone makes a claim and provide “evidence” that the resurrection never happened? Or that the Bible is full of errors? Or that Christianity is guilty of horrible evils in history? Suddenly, “because mom or dad, grandma or grandpa said so” doesn’t work. Even as early as grade school, children are hearing other voices that seek to undermine everything that you and other spiritual authorities taught them.

Young people will not remain faithful to a faith they do not understand and cannot defend. In a post-Christian culture, it is more critical than ever for young people to know what they believe, why they believe it, and are prepared to defend themselves from attacks to their faith. Throughout church history this has been known as apologetics. Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith. Peter states that Christians are to be prepared, “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). A portion of Paul’s ministry included a defense of the Gospel, “I am appointed for a defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:16). Apologists are individuals who defend Christian beliefs and practices against attacks, provide arguments for the truthfulness of Christianity over other worldviews, and refute unbiblical ideas or theories. The goal of apologetics is to persuade belief by presenting a rational basis for Christianity, to defend the truth by answering questions or the objections of unbelief, and to reveal the foolishness of false ideas so they do not capture the heart and mind of our children. Apologetics is an important aspect of your discipleship ministry to your children or grandchildren and can be divided into the following four categories:

  • Prove. Develop a case for Christianity utilizing biblical, scientific, historical, archeological, and personal testimony to establish the truthfulness of the Christian worldview. Show that Christianity is true, credible, reliable, and aligns with the real world. 

  • Defend. In every generation there are many attacks against Christianity and children need to be introduced to these distorted ideas, learn to test them against God’s Word, and be able to identify truth from error. The two primary areas of attack: The Son of God and the Word of God. 

  • Refute. Compare and contrast with other religions and belief systems to verify the Christian faith and dismantle false and erroneous views. Refute arguments made in support of different beliefs by showing they are unreliable, irrational, unverifiable, or simply do not make sense with what we see in real life.

  • Persuade. Work to clarify biblical truths, answer objections, address criticisms, provide answers and eliminate any intellectual difficulties that stand in the way of coming to faith in Christ. The goal is to encourage alignment with God’s Word, apply the truth of God’s Word to life, and establish a lifelong commitment to the Gospel. Apologetics is a partner of evangelism where we seek to convince children to accept truth claims about Christianity and trust Christ. Give your child every reason possible to embrace the Christian faith and reject counterfeit beliefs. 

7 Tips to help children understand and defend their faith:

  • Utilize questions to grow the faith of future generations. Your goal is twofold: become an askable parent or grandparent and become skilled at the art of asking good questions. Use questions to create serious spiritual dialogue, to encourage critical thinking, and discover what children believe.

  • Take objections from a child seriously. Do not mock an objection or dismiss a question. Spend as much time and energy as needed to fully explore a topic with a child. 

  • Anticipate attacks and arguments that a child will face in the teen and adult years. After teaching a biblical truth to a child or grandchild, present the faulty argument, prove why it is false, give reading material that establishes the truth, and continue to point out in conversation over the years the erroneous arguments. 

  • Built an apologetics library for each child. These make great gifts. Suggested books include Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace, Tactics by Gregory Koukl, Answers Vol. 1-4 by Answers in Genesis, Quick Answers to Social Questions by Bryan Osborne, Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions by Ken Ham, Debunking Evolution by Daniel Biddle, True For You But Not For Me by Paul Copan, and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

  • Expose children to the truth in real life experiences. Allow older children to see a live ultrasound so they learn the horrors of abortion, or visit the creation museum to teach the truth of creation and then visit a natural history museum to show the error of evolution.

  • Look for examples of false beliefs or erroneous messages in movies, music, books, and television. Point them out, ask questions, and discuss why something is problematic. Always point back to Scripture so that it is not your opinion, but based on the authority of God’s Word.

  • Utilize the Truth Method. The truth method is intended to teach a biblical truth, identify a message from the world, and analyze it to determine the good and reject the bad using five steps.
    1. Teach a biblical truth through instruction and discussion. What biblical truths do your grandchildren need to be taught to stand strong in their faith?
    2. Recognize the idea or concept the world is communicating. What lies or half truths threaten their faith today?
    3. Understand the claim by analyzing it. What is actually being said?
    4. Test the idea according to the Bible. What does the Bible say about the topic?
    5. Hold fast to what is good and reject what is bad. What should be rejected and why?

Rise up parents and grandparents. The battle of ideas is real and it’s taking no prisoners. We are in a battle for the hearts and minds of our children and grandchildren. Helping a child detect errors and discern truth in the age of fake news, social media, and conspiracy theories is critical and you are uniquely positioned for such a time as this.

Quick Tips to Get Published

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I regularly get asked questions about how to get published, so decided I would share one of my email responses from a question that was asked of me by an aspiring author. I don’t consider myself a publishing expert, but I’m experienced enough with the publishing world to share some advice from personal experience. If you are an aspiring author, here are a few quick tips to get published.

  • Publishing is slow, so patience is needed. A traditional publisher typically takes 12-24 months to get a book in print. Self-publishing can be half that time. My first book took a traditional publisher almost four years to get printed. Think marathon, not sprint when it comes to publishing. Don’t get discouraged by how long it can take to get a book in print.
  • Research who publishes books on your subject matter. Every publisher has their area of specialty and interest. Finding the right publisher is key. Pick up books that you’ve read and see who published them. When you’ve identified some publishers, visit their website and look at the titles of their books. The ideal publisher is one that publishes on your subject area, but does not have a book about the topic you are writing. 
  • Create a killer book proposal. This is your sales tool. It’s purpose is to get a book contract, so it is not the time to be bashful or cut corners. You are trying to persuade them to say “yes.” Give them every reason to do that. Answer the why question thoroughly (why the book is needed). Do your research on what is already in print and be honest. If you say, “Nothing exists on this topic,” you will need to back it up. Otherwise, publishers will know that you have not done your homework. Include as many endorsements in the book proposal as possible. Endorsements equal marketing and marketing equals sales. And for publishers, sales is the end game, so put time in to get a good list of endorsements. Develop a plan to sell copies of the book and communicate this clearly in the proposal. Books won’t sell themselves, so you will need to convince a publisher that you are going to actively work to sell a book. Many publishers have a template for a book proposal and it’s found on their website. If they provide one, follow it exactly. If not, you have the freedom to create your own.
  • Submit your book proposal to multiple publishers at the same time. Make sure to include some small and medium sized publishers. If you are not an established name, it’s difficult to get a contract from an A-list book publisher, so manage your expectations. If you submit to one publisher at a time, like many request, you may wait months for a response. If the proposal is rejected, the process begins with another publisher. If there are multiple rejections from multiple publishers, proposals submitted one by one, may result in a very long process.
  • While you are waiting for an answer from a traditional publisher, research self-publishing or hybrid options. This is not a bad route in today’s digital world. I self-published my first book and I told the individual I was working with, “I don’t want it to look self-published.” The book was so well done that it led to publishing offers from major publishers. Most of my books are published by a traditional publisher, but I have self-published a few books that I wanted to maintain ownership of the book or needed the material published on a quicker timeline. There are good reasons to consider self-publishing and there are good reasons to consider a traditional publisher. Explore both. 
  • Take marketing seriously. Publishing a book is not the finish line. It’s the starting point. Once a book is published, it must be marketed, especially if it is self-published, or no one will know it exists. Speaking opportunities, social media, and networking with other people are all helpful marketing avenues. If you’ve ever read a book and it wasn’t very good and wondered, “how did this get published,” it’s because they understood that publishers don’t always publish good writing. They publish what they think can sell. Convince a publisher that your writing can sell and you will get a contract. 

Publishing a book is an adventure. It takes determination and usually some thick skin, but it is worth it. Enjoy the journey!

Is Same-Sex Attraction a Sin?

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“Is same-sex attraction a sin?” This question was asked by a pastor to a group of high school students as part of a talk on sexual identity. My son attends this group, and after inquiring what would be talked about, the pastor invited me to join the group for the evening, so I did. His talk needed much clarity, so for my sons sake and others, I decided to write this post. His premise was three-fold. First, homosexuality is a sin. Second, the Bible does not address same-sex attraction. And third, same-sex attraction is not a sin. Let’s look at each of these briefly.

Homosexuality is a Sin

The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin. Of course, making that statement is about as enjoyable as a doctor telling a patient she has cancer. And it is received with the same range of emotions. Some weep. Others rage. And we are seeing both occur when brave men and women state what the Bible says, that homosexuality is a sin. But in case you are new to the topic, Leviticus 18:22 states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul identifies homosexuality as sin in Romans 1:26-27 and in 1 Timothy 1:10.

Homosexuality, according to Romans 1:21-25, is the consequence of another more serious problem, which is idolatry. Here is the problem in a nutshell: humans spurn the Creator, refusing to glorify God or give Him thanks and worship creation instead of the Creator. Paul tells us that when people exchange the glory of God for creation that they exchange the truthfulness of God for a lie. God gives humans over to their own selfish desires, one of which is the manifestation of homosexuality. God giving individuals over to the depravity of their lusts is, in part, His judgment upon someone. The point of Romans 1:21-25 is not primarily that same-sex temptation and acts are a perversion of God’s good design. This is, of course, a true principle that comes from this passage. However, the main point that we must understand is that homosexuality is God’s act of judgment for idolatry.

Most of us probably know a family member or friend who is actively living in homosexual sin. If we wish to help them, which we should, then what they need is not therapeutic counseling or kid glove coddling. Their soul is in danger of hell and we must treat them with compassion but also great concern. Romans 1 tells us that homosexuality isn’t the problem. Worship is. Homosexuality exists because the worship of God does not. So this tells us where we need to direct our efforts. If we want to see a homosexual person turn from his or her sin, then we need to help them see and savor the greatness of God and beauty of Christ. What is needed is heart change based on repentance of sin and a new affection for Christ. Sin withers only when the Gospel is brought to bear on it. Thomas Chalmers states,

“There is not one personal transformation in which the heart is left without an object of ultimate beauty and joy. The hearts desire for one particular object can be conquered, but its desire to have some object is unconquerable. The only way to disposes the old heart of an object of affection is by the expulsive power of a new one” (The Expulsive Power of a New Affection).

Sin can only be conquered when Jesus is savored as more beautiful and satisfying than the sin. The Gospel motivates us to say no to sin rather than, “I can sin because I will be forgiven later.” We hate sin because God died for it and because we know that God never lets us sin successfully. So the point here is that we must wholeheartedly recognize that homosexuality is a sin. But we must go deeper. We must see that it is a result of idolatry and deal with the root issue.

Same-Sex Attraction in the Bible

The pastor’s second premise was that the Bible does not deal with same-sex attraction. This is about as true as saying the Bible doesn’t have anything to say about education, grandparenting, or the Trinity. If we pull out our trusty concordance, we will find that these words are rather scarce, even absent from the Bible all together. The same is true of same-sex attraction. Should we assume that the Bible is silent on this subject? To make such an assumption is erroneous. The Bible has a lot to say about education, grandparenting, and the Trinity as well as many other subjects that we will not find by name in a concordance. The problem isn’t the silence of Scripture, the issue is an exegetical fallacy of presupposing our own category or terminology on Scripture, not finding it, and claiming it isn’t present.

This is much the same as me trying to locate my son in our home and asking the other children where I may find Frank. To which they would tell me that Frank doesn’t live at this house and would tell me to look elsewhere. But if I asked my children where I may find Jay, they could point me in the right direction, maybe even tell me what room he is in, because his name is Jay not Frank. We must know the Bible’s name or category for a particular topic in order to properly find it. If we misname it or miscategorize it, we will think the Bible is silent when in fact it is not. The Bible’s name for same-sex attraction is sexual temptation. Once we understand this, suddenly the Bible has a lot to say about same-sex attraction.

Same-Sex Attraction is a Temptation to be Fought

This brings us to the third point, that same-sex attraction is not sin. On the surface, this is a difficult subject to gain clarity about. But when we address this topic using biblical language, it clears up the fog considerably. Let us ask the question on the Bible’s terms. Is same-sex temptation a sin? Now we have a category from which to answer this question from Scripture.

There is a biblical category for being tempted without sinning. It is true to say that temptation itself is not sin. James 1:14-15 makes a distinction between temptation that leads to sin and the sin itself. The feelings of same-sex attraction are not always active sin, but it is a desire for something sinful, so we must take great care with how we navigate this topic.

In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus equated lust with adultery. This establishes an important biblical principle: if it is a sin to do something, it is also a sin to desire to do that same thing. Any desire for something God has forbidden is sin. Because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin, it is also sinful to desire to commit homosexual acts.

Same-sex attraction becomes sin if it turns into lust. Once the attraction turns into a desire to do something sexually that God forbids, it has become sin in the heart. It is not wrong to think another person is attractive, but where is the line between attraction becoming lust? Same-sex attraction is a desire for something God has forbidden, and as such, it should not become a fire that we feed or a friend that is courted, but a temptation that is fought.

John Piper has some insightful words on the matter of same-sex attraction: “It would be right to say that same-sex desires are sinful in the sense that they are disordered by sin and exist contrary to God’s revealed will. But to be caused by sin and rooted in sin does not make a sinful desire equal to sinning. Sinning is what happens when rebellion against God expresses itself through our disorders” (Let Marriage Be Held in Honor).

Same-sex attraction is best understood as a temptation that can easily become a sin. If a thought or desire is allowed to turn into something more, it becomes a lustful sin. So what should a person do when a momentary same-sex attraction pops into his head? The Bible tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Here we get to the crux of the matter. Individuals need to be taught how to battle temptation, not coddle it.

How is the believer to defeat temptation? What does the Bible tell us to do with sexual temptation? The Bible tells us to flee from sin, to fight for purity, and to saturate our mind on God’s Word, guarding it from impurity. In sharp contrast to the world, God calls His people to be pure (1 Thess. 4:3-7). The Bible tells us that the heart is the battleground to conquer sexual sin, including same-sex attraction. To achieve victory, the focus must be on the internal first and then the external. Fighting against sexual sin and temptation is constant and difficult, but it is a battle that every believer can win if they rely upon the resources that God provides such as meditation on Scripture, devotion to prayer, and fellowship with the church. Christians of all ages need biblical tools to fight temptation so that we are not sent into battle without any weapons. 

In addition, the Bible speaks regularly about the consequences of sexual sin. In fact, this is one of the biblical methods of encouraging young people to defeat sexual temptation. Young people can be reminded of the long lasting consequences of sexual sin, such as death (Prov. 7:22-27), loss of wealth (Prov. 5:10), lifelong regret (5:11-14), and shame and destruction (Prov. 6:32-35).

Same-sex attraction may come “natural” to some people, but we all “naturally” desire things that are sinful. The presence of these desires is not an excuse to allow them to take up residence in our heart or to act upon them. Is it right for a “naturally” angry person to allow feelings of bitterness in their heart? Is it right for a “naturally” greedy person to desire their neighbor’s possessions? Of course not. We have the responsibility to resist temptation and to fight these sinful desires and so does anyone who naturally has a same-sex attraction.

Getting rid of sin is like getting rid of weeds. If weeds are allowed to grow, they will take over. If they are cut off at the ground, they will keep growing back. If we want to kill weeds, we have to pull them up at the roots. This is what we must do with sin and this is what must happen with same-sex attraction. We cannot deal with sin on the surface. We must root it out. The great puritan preacher John Owens once wrote, “Be killing sin or it be killing you.” It is foolish to take sexual desires lightly, entertain them in our mind, or overestimate our ability to resist temptation. We must flee sinful desires and aggressively attack sin in our life. The same is to be true for those who struggle with same-sex attraction.

The Lord designed sex as a wonderful expression between a husband and wife, but those who use sex selfishly or apart from God’s good design will experience much heartache and ruin. Same-sex attraction is the result of a broken creation and for that reason is sinful. Same-sex attraction is not the same as sinning, but it should be treated like all temptation to sin. If you are a Christian and have sinned sexually, know that God has forgiven you based on what Christ has done on the cross. If sin is confessed, God is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). May God empower us to have victory over sexual sin for His glory and our good.

Understanding Educational Equity: What It Is and Why It Should Be Rejected

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A philosophy called equity has become a dominant ideology in public education and is beginning to make inroads in some churches and Christian schools. Due to its recent explosion and significant impact on education, Christians need to understand what equity is and how to respond. The Bible calls believers to test everything and hold fast to what is good, so this article will examine some of the central tenants of equity according to Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21).

What Is Equity?

Equity is a term used to address fairness in education. It is an educational approach that views students academically through the lens of skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion. There are many variations, but a common definition in public education is: “Equity means a student’s identity—their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, immigration status, religion and/or disability—does not predict their success. All students are provided the tools, resources, and support they need to achieve their personal best.”

The underlying belief of those advocating for equity is that the current state of public education is advantageous for white, heterosexual, and Christian students and is systemically unfair for minority races, transgender, homosexual, and Islamic students. Therefore, systemic changes must occur to level the playing field for all students.

What Does the Bible Say about Equity?

Equity is a form of justice. To understand equity, we must understand biblical justice. Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” God wants both righteousness and justice. Righteousness is the moral standard of right and wrong to which God holds humans accountable based on His divine standard. Justice is the fair and impartial application of God’s moral law in society.

The Hebrew word for equity means “straight” or “level.” The Bible uses the image of scales that are level and straight to communicate the idea of justice both in the sense of fairness (a level playing field) and uprightness (a straight standard). God deals with us fairly and according to a standard. God instructs us to deal with each other in the same way, without favoritism or partiality. Applied to education, a biblical view of equity would mean equal, fair, and impartial treatment for everyone according to God’s law.

 

Biblical Passage

Biblical Principle

“You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob” (Ps. 99:4).

Equity is God’s idea. He designed it, so he gets to define it.

“The Lord shall judge the people with equity” (Ps. 98:9).

God is passionate about equity and fairness.

“With righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity” (Is. 11:3-4).

Equity is based on God’s moral standard of righteousness. It’s the impartial application of God’s moral law.  


Public School Equity Is a Secular View of Morality

Equity sounds good on the surface, but it takes a biblical idea, hollows it out, and redefines it. The version of equity taught in public schools maintains the concept of fairness but redefines what is fair according to human standards rather than God’s law.

The million-dollar question is this: How do we define what is fair or unfair? Public schools determine fairness by comparing students from one group with students from another group—they call this student identity. Consider an example. Suppose one group, such as black students, have a higher rate of behavior problems in a school. In that case, the equitable response is to classify their actions as appropriate for black culture, utilize restorative practices such as a listening session, and ensure that the suspension rate for black children is the same as those of white children. The belief is that when all groups of students have the same outcomes, such as disciplinary action, education will be fair, and children will have what they need to succeed academically. Individual responsibility and personal accountability are replaced with group association.

It is essential to recognize that equity is an ideology that has set aside classic liberal education ideals in favor of a new progressive creed. This creed, often known as “critical race theory,” diminishes individual identity in favor of group identities based on gender, race, sexuality, and religion. It understands identity groups to be in constant conflict with one another and believes justice involves taking power from the oppressor groups and giving it to the oppressed. It holds this to be the key to ushering in the long-awaited educational utopia that will fix all academic problems.

According to the Bible, this is a distorted version of equity. As a result, it is unjust and discriminatory because it is based on a partiality of skin color, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Equity must have a standard of good and bad and right and wrong. The problem is that public schools have no objective foundation for morality. God’s law, the Ten Commandments, was removed from public schools in the 1960s. The void created by removing God’s morality was replaced with a new moral code that teaches a secular view of justice, race, sexuality, and gender. Public schools are not morally neutral, and equity is an example of this reality.

Public schools are indoctrinating children with a secular view of morality using terminology such as equity, white privilege, systemic racism, anti-bias training, cultural responsiveness, and restorative justice. This insidious ideology is permeating all academic subjects: math where children are taught reparations, history where children are taught that America is evil and was founded on greed and slavery, and English where white children are taught implicit bias and micro-aggressions.

Public school equity is a moral revolution that demands complete conformity. It appeals to justice and virtue; therefore, it is deceptive. But it embraces and glorifies immoral means of activism through rioting, looting, and arson to achieve what it claims is a moral end. It uses familiar moral language but hollows it out to make the words refer to something very different.

Public School Equity Is Critical Race Theory

The version of equity taught in public schools is critical race theory by a different name. Critical race theory claims that society consists of two groups of people: the oppressed and the oppressors. The dominant people groups are automatically oppressors, and the minority groups are the oppressed. Critical race theory divides everyone by groups and portrays all minorities as victims. Those in majority groups are portrayed as victimizers, racists, sexists, and bigots.

Public school equity, taking its cues from critical race theory, can be summarized by the idea that oppressed groups of students must be liberated from all forms of oppression in education to succeed academically. Therefore, academic achievement gaps, negative student behavior, declining graduation rates, and dropping illiteracy scores result from oppression in school due to fewer educational opportunities for minorities, systemic racism from biased teachers, and white privilege from a color-blind approach. This ideology believes the problem is the system. Critical race theory seeks to dismantle social structures, such as education, and rebuild them according to a new vision.

Critical race theory builds off of decades of multiculturalism, diversity instruction, and affirmative action, which are embedded in teacher training and curriculum. Educational curriculum has transitioned away from academics and into social justice activism. School board members, superintendents, principals, and teachers are now coming out of the closet as full social justice race warriors. “Let your revolution come through your instruction and your education,” said Mauri-Friestleben, principle of North Minneapolis High School. We must recognize that public school equity is not about fairness; it is a Trojan horse for a social revolution.

Critical race theory and Christianity are competing worldviews. Critical race theory, and therefore equity, redefines what it means to be human, as well as sin, salvation, and the means to restore a broken world. Critical race theory is based on atheism. If there is no God, then there is no such thing as sin. Sin has been redefined as oppression against humans rather than rebellion against God. Because public school equity gets the problem wrong, it also gets the solution wrong. Salvation has been redefined as activism with the goal of liberation rather than repentance to Christ with the goal of restoring a broken world through gospel transformation.

Christianity and Critical Theory Are Competing Worldviews

    Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration



CHRISTIANITY

GOD

One Race

Male and Female

Marriage

Image of God

REBELLION

Sin

Pride

Hate

Corruption

Partiality

Greed

JESUS

Repentance

Heart Change

Confession

Trust

Obedience

NEWNESS

Forgiveness

Love

Justice

Hope

Benevolence

Serving Others



CRITICAL THEORY

GROUP IDENTITY

Many Races

Gender Fluidity

Sexual Orientation

Atheism

OPPRESSION

Patriarchy

White Supremacy

Toxic Masculinity

Christianity

Heterosexuality

Classism

ACTIVISM

Protest

Riot

Resistance

Education

Awareness

LIBERATION

Critical Race Theory

Social Justice

Power

Defund Police

Diversity

Reparations

Public School Equity Is Marxism

Public school equity is rooted in Marxism, using race, sexuality, and gender as its battering ram to tear down our form of government and create a new America. It is anti-America, anti-Christian, anti-capitalism, and an entirely different vision for children’s education that seeks to shape their beliefs and make them social justice activists. Public school equity calls the values and foundational principles that form America’s constitutional republic inherently racist and evil. They are denigrated as “whiteness,” “systemically racist,” and “white privilege.” For example, Hopkins, Minnesota Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed welcomed teachers and staff back to school by urging them to examine their “whiteness” and recognize that “systemic racism has soiled this country, not just since slavery but since the genocide of the Native Americans.”

Christians must recognize that equity is a biblical concept. We must also recognize that a secular society has redefined justice based on human standards rather than God’s law. Therefore, Christians must emphatically reject the unbiblical and destructive ideology of public school equity. Christians should not seek to imitate equity taught by public schools because by doing so, we are adopting an atheistic, secularized morality based on a distorted version of justice that replaces the gospel of Jesus Christ with a humanistic religious system.

Abraham Lincoln once stated, “The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation is the philosophy of the government in the next.” If a generation of children is taught the immoral, ungodly values of public school equity today, they will implement these values as voters, business owners, parents, civic leaders, and teachers tomorrow. Christians should be concerned about what children are learning, stand against injustice, and teach our children biblical equity based on God’s law so that our homes, schools, churches, and communities are places of impartiality and righteousness.

Discipling Children: 8 Biblical Practices Every Family Can Do. Handout for Mega Con

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  1. __________________ ___________________
  • “Get wisdom, get insight” (Proverbs 4:5)
  • “Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age…We impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:6, 13).

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is _______________ _____ _____________. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock” (Matt. 7:24).

Wisdom also means _____________ _________ ___________ _____ ___________.

Why is wisdom important for a child?

The book of Proverbs provides three compelling reasons.

  1. Wisdom leads to ____________________________. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom” (Prov. 3:13)
  2. Wisdom is the path to ___________________________. “He who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (Prov. 8:36)
  3. Wisdom is _________________________. (Prov. 16:16)

Key Tools

 

  1. ___________ ______ ____________ the Bible
  • “Teach these things to your children and children’s children” (Deut. 4:9)

The primary method to teach and disciple young people has been called ___________ _____________.

Consider a few practical thoughts:

  • Read ____________________________________
  • Read ____________________________________
  • Read ____________________________________

Your goal is to explain the Bible passage clearly and biblically, engage children in the process, and help them apply God’s truth to life.

Key Tools

 

  1. _______________ Telling
  • “Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeps of the Lord, and his might and the wonders he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob” (Ps. 78:4-5).
  • “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord” (Ps. 102:18).

Key Tools

 

  1. Sharing the ______________
  • Aim for __________ ______________.
  • Have a _____________________.
  • Learn to communicate the __________________.

Key tools

 

  1. __________________ ___________________
  • Your goal is two fold:
  • Examples from the Bible include:

Key Tools

Gather good questions.

  1. What made you sad or happy today?
  2. What was your favorite part of the day?
  3. What made you laugh this week?
  4. What are you looking forward to this week?
  5. What rule was the hardest to follow this week?
  6. What is your favorite color, hobby, city, smell, food, vacation, drink, game, sport, movie, show, music group?
  7. If you had a safe, what would you keep in it?
  8. If you could afford anything at this moment, what would you buy?
  9. What is one thing you love about your mother or father?
  10. What is the best adventure you’ve had with a friend?
  11. What are three characteristics you look for in a friend?
  12. What is an animal that best describes you?
  13. What is a lesson you’ve learned the hard way?
  14. What is a memory that makes you laugh?
  15. What is something that you are afraid of?
  16. What is a challenge that you are facing?
  17. What is a dream that you have for the future?
  18. If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?
  19. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
  20. If you could be anything you wanted, what would you be?
  21. If you could ask God any question, what would you ask him?
  22. If you were stranded on an island, what three people do you want with you?
  23. What are you thinking about lately?
  24. What has influenced your thinking on this topic?
  25. How do you know that is true? What if you are wrong?

 

  1. __________________ ___________________
  • “talk of them when you sit in your house” (Deut. 6:7).

What makes these times valuable?

 

Key Tools

 

  1. _______________
  • Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

 Key Tools

 

  1. _________________
  • Meaningful __________________.
  • Message of _______________ ______________.
  • Picture of a _______________ ______________.

How To Help Children Develop a Biblical Worldview Handout for Mega Con

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Colossians 2:7-8 mindset, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

 

Christianity                                                                                           Secular Humanism

God exists. He is the center of all things.

God does not exist. Man is the center of all things.

God created the world.

The universe came about by random chance. There is no designer.

God created humans in his image for a purpose. Humans exist to glorify God.

Humans exist for no ultimate purpose other than their own happiness.

Humanity is totally depraved and has rebelled against a perfect God.

Humanity is good.

Morality comes from God and is revealed in the Bible.

Morality is relative. There is no absolute standard of right and wrong.

Jesus is the way, truth, and life. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus.

Jesus is not God. Humanity has the power to save.

Death ushers us into eternal life or eternal death.

Death is the end of all existence.

 

Worldview is created when a persons answers four basic questions:

1.

2.

3. 

4. 

 

What is Biblical Worldview?

 

Biblical Worldview is:

 

Biblical Worldview in 4 Words:

 

  1. ________________ : God made the _____________ ___________ (Gen. 1:1).

 

  1. ________________ : Sin made the _________ _________ (Rom. 3:23; 8:20-22).

 

  1. ________________ : Jesus paid the __________ _____ __________ (John. 3:16).

 

  1. ________________ : God will make the ___________ _________ (Rev. 21:1-8).

 

Identity in Christ: How the Bible Answers the Question “Who Am I?”

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“Who am I?”

Every young person asks themselves this question. It is the challenge of childhood and hunt of humanity to discover ones identity. Society shouts to our children, attempting to convince them that they can create their own identity through the clothes they wear, the car they drive, the cause they support, their tattoos, music, job, and the sexuality they embrace. As a result, identity can change with a new pair of clothes, a new accessory, or a proclamation of gender expression.

Children are told to explore and construct their own identity based on their preference. Due to the importance of this topic, every church, school and family should address it with children. This document will introduce you to identity in Christ so that we may achieve the goal of helping young people understand and live out a God-defined, Jesus-centered, and gospel-driven identity.

Identity is a clearly defined definition of self. For the Christian, identity formation is when a young person seeks to understand who he or she is in relationship to Jesus. Few young people know what the Bible says regarding their identity in Christ and, as a result, substitute an identity from society, peers, achievements or failures, or from family. When we do, an identity-crisis is bound to result.

A Case Study on Identity

The book of Daniel provides a case study regarding the enemy’s identity-forming tactics. Daniel was a young Israelite taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar and transported to Babylon. The King used three methods to attempt to transform Daniel from a God-fearer to a Babylonian. Nebuchadnezzar targeted Daniel’s beliefs, desires, and identity.

  • Belief. Daniel and his companions were taught the literature and language of Babylon for three years. What we think matters. Education shapes. It forms. American society has changed its views on gender identity, marriage, and sexuality because the literature and media of America has shaped their thinking.

  • Desire. Nebuchadnezzar let his highly valued captives eat the best food available from the King’s table, which was the second tactic to transforming them into Babylonians. According to the book of Daniel, the King provided food that Israelites were prohibited from eating. American culture provides sexually appealing temptations to young people and encourages them to explore, enjoy, and embrace whatever they desire.

  • Identity. Part of the Babylonian strategy was to change the names of Daniel and his friends. Nebuchadnezzar changed Daniel’s Hebrew name, which meant “God is my judge” to a Babylonian name Belteshazzar, which meant “Bel has protected the king.” The obvious parallel in our time is homosexuality and transgenderism where young people are encouraged to embrace a new gender identity and even change their name.

Just like in the time of Daniel, our young people are encouraged to take on a false identity. Many young Israelites were assimilated to the Babylonian culture as they embraced the Babylonian teachings, ate the King’s food, and accepted their new identity. Only a small number, like Daniel, were able to remain faithful to God. Daniel rejected the cultural-shaping influences and did not waver in his faith. Daniel’s example is applicable for today as our children face the same tactics that seek to shape their identity. Thousands of years later the enemy is using the same methods and targeting what our children think, their appetites, and identity. Let us be aware of the identity-assimilation process that is occurring.

Identity in God’s Story, His Character, and His Son

The Christian is to live with a God-defined, Jesus-centered, gospel-driven identity. Any other source and any other identity is a false identity and will lead to a faulty way of living. Our ability to navigate all the messages of the world is tied to our understanding of who Christ is and who we are as a result. Only as we understand our life in God’s larger story of redemption will we begin to live God honoring lives as imitators of Jesus Christ. Who I am is rooted in three areas, only in the context of these themes will our identity make sense.

God’s Story

The Christian narrative, specifically salvation and judgment, establishes our identity in Christ as part of a new humanity. Those who come by faith to know the Lord Jesus Christ are incorporated into the life of the church as a foretaste of the fullness of life in Christ that will be fully known in the kingdom to come. The Bible describes our identity in straightforward terms – we are lost, dead in our sins, and the very enemies of God. But thanks be to God, we are not left there. The Gospel of Jesus Christ declares salvation and redemption to all who believe in Him.

  1. Creation: I am created. I am not god. I am dependent. I am not self-sufficient. I am human. I am not animal. I am created in God’s image. I am not created to be any other.

  2. Rebellion: I am sinful, corrupt, depraved, blind, and lost. I am not good by nature or spiritually alive. I crave glory that does not belong to me. I am not the center of reality. Sin makes us glory thieves. There is probably not a day that goes by where we do not plot to steal God’s glory in some manner. We don’t need help because of something we did or something that was done to us, but because of who we are. Sin is our hearts desire for something or someone other than Christ.

  3. Salvation: I am saved. I am not a child of wrath. I am a son of God. I am Satan’s enemy. Christ broke the power of sin over us (Rom. 6:1-14) but the presence of sin remains.

  4. Restoration: I will be made new. I will have a new home. I am not made for this world. I have a purpose in this life. I am God’s ambassador and His steward in this world, working for His good and glory in all that I do.

God’s Character

We receive our identity from God. It is the divine that defines. Who God is determines who I am. The way our children get their identity has everything to do with God and nothing to do with them. He called us out of darkness, He loves us, He possessed us, and He set us apart as holy by God (1 Peter 2:9-10). God gave us our identity by virtue of His irresistible call. Therefore, we cannot understand who we are until we understand who God is. When we finally realize that God is holy and I am not, that is when God’s identity becomes our identity through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Christian self is not defined in terms of who we are in and of ourselves. It’s defined in terms of what God does in us and the relationship He creates with us. Christians cannot talk about our identity without talking about the action of God in us, the relationship of God with us, and the purpose of God for us. Identity must be God-centered, not self-focused.

God’s Son

Identity is simply an understanding of myself in relation to Christ and living out this gospel-reality. This is why we can say that the most significant quest is to ground ourselves in the gospel and to teach our children to do the same. Our lives are either shaped by indulging the sinful nature or by abandoning ourselves to the sovereign grace of God. When identity is sought internally it leads to confusion, selfishness, and sinfulness. When identity is pursued externally in Christ, self is defined by another and rests on what Christ did and who He is, not on our accomplishments, preferences, or character.

There is much talk of self-identity and self-esteem. These notions must be rejected as these aspects of personhood can only exist apart from Christ. The only individual who needs self-identity is the person who has no identity in Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us “to live is Christ.” Identity is always rooted in Jesus and is Christ-centric not man-centric. Our identity is correctly captured when our gaze is fixed on Christ. Our self-focus and self-centeredness must be confronted at its roots.

What is the Purpose of Our identity?

Our identity is not an end in itself, but for the sake of service to the King (1 Peter 2:9-10). God made us who we are so that we might proclaim the glory of who He is. Our identity is for the sake of making known His identity. We are given our identity so that God can be seen in us. Therefore, being a Christian (our identity) and making God’s greatness known (our purpose) are closely tied to one another.

Who we are is for the sake of God. God made us who we are to show the world who He is. Ones identity in Christ radically redefines ones agenda, values, priorities, passions, and purposes in life. Ultimately, the Redeemer lived, died, and rose again so that we would no longer live for ourselves but for Him and His glory (2 Cor. 5:14-15).